I was supposed to go to Preschool but my Mom and my Grandmother decided it wasn't the best thing. I found out when I was with my Grandmother and her sister at the mall like we did every Tuesday morning when I was that age. We listened to the emergency report in the car and had no way of checking with anyone in the family if they were okay, my Mom was the person in my entire family that had a cell phone at the time. She was at work, so was my Dad. We got to my Grandparent's house and turned the TV on. The time was 11:30 AM EST, instead of the Price is Right being on, we watched the second plane hit the Tower. My Grandmother grabbed me and held on to me as in that very moment, anything was possible. We were going to all be under attack? Were there sleeper cells? Were there going to be nuclear attacks? No one knew.
The rest of the day was a blur as I was 2 months away from turned 5 years old and I only remember the big moments from that time. I remember my Dad leaving work and coming to my Grandparents house to get me. By this time a plane had already hit the Pentagon and the 4th plane had crashed in Western PA. With all the attacks being within hundreds of miles of us, my entire family was fearful for what could happen. I got home and then my Mom got home after my Dad. We ate dinner as we watched the news where we saw people jump from the Towers. That was a growing up moment for me, I realised that this wasn't normal or right.
I was lucky that no one in my family was hurt or those that we knew weren't hurt either. So tonight, if you're eating dinner with your family or eating alone. Just remember all those that were lost and those that were fighting to save them.
Ps. Sorry for the long post but figured I'd share my experience as some of the people this community either weren't born or don't remember 9/11.